Bell 206L-3 accident near Indian Trail, NC
On May 25, 1998, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Indian Trail, NC. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 25, 1998
- Place
- Indian Trail, NC
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.980°N, 80.541°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09984
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 25, 1998, about 0032 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N96CW, collided with a high tension static ground wire, and subsequently the ground, during cruise flight, at Indian Trail, North Carolina. The helicopter was operated by U.S. Helicopters, Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135, and visual flight rules. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. A flight plan was not filed. The commercial pilot and the four passengers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed. The on-demand, passenger flight originated from a helicopter landing zone at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina, at 0010, and was destined for Monroe, North Carolina. According to US Helicopters, Inc., the pilot was conducting passenger transport from the Charlotte Motor Speedway to various destinations in the Charlotte area. The pilot was on his last trip of the day, and departed the Speedway with four passengers on board destined for the Monroe Airport. Upon de-planing of the passengers at Monroe, he was scheduled to return to US Heliport (NC56). Prior to departing the Speedway, the pilot informed a co-worker that weather at the time was VFR with 3 miles visibility. The passengers received a pre-flight briefing from the co-worker and the co-worker personally insured that all passengers had their seatbelts properly secured, and that the doors of the helicopter were properly closed. According to the co-worker, the pilot had last reported that he was proceeding east along highway 74, about 0025. A
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude while operating in adverse weather. A contributing factor was the incoming fog and high tension static wire.
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Browse: North Carolina · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
